Is Serbia safe to travel?
Updated October 2026
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 29 September 2026.
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Safety
- Areas of ethnic tension — Tensions between different ethnic communities persist in some parts of the country, in particular Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa on the Macedonian and Kosovo borders, and in the Sandžak area. Make only necessary journeys there, and use the motorways where you can.
- Fires, floods, earthquakes — In the hottest months the country faces wildfire risk, made worse by drought and high temperatures, and the local authorities can order evacuations and road closures for safety. Some areas flood after heavy rain, and there is earthquake risk as well. Check the local emergency procedures and follow the instructions given.
- Vehicle theft — Petty crime and car thefts are reported with increasing frequency, Belgrade included. Keep your own embassy's numbers to hand, because the police very often do not promptly report incidents that directly involve foreign citizens. Carry photocopies of your passport, identity card, plane ticket and traveller's cheques, and keep the originals somewhere safe.
- Rallies and football — Stay away from areas affected by political rallies or demonstrations, follow the media and do exactly what the local authorities say. Pay particular attention around sporting events, which have produced violence in the past, especially matches between traditional rivals.
Going with your own vehicle?
2 local guides on GuideMeet work in Serbia: they know the roads, the permits and the areas to avoid. You contact them directly, free and with no commission.
- Radiša Stojadinović · Сврљиг, Србија
- Roman Bale · Ljubljana, Slovenija
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 29 September 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Serbia before you travel. Where a guide's profile shows “Licence verified”, we found that licence in the official public register; otherwise GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 29 September 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 7 October 2026.